It was close to midnight when Maura wearily trudged back home. Being a midwife was not one of her favourite jobs, especially when the mother was a loud, screaming, thrashing woman who panicked so much at the sight of all the blood. Walking up the steps to her door, Maura didn't realize that the entire house was so quiet, and the lights were all off.
Opening the door, Maura hung up her coat. That's weird, the house is so quiet. Everyone must be asleep now. She headed to the kitchen and took out the smoked ham and cut herself a slice of bread from the loaf she had made yesterday.
Guided only by the moonlight that streamed through the windows, Maura walked into the dining room and lit a candle. That was when she saw the drop of blood on the floor.
She gasped as she dropped her sandwich on the floor. She gingerly lifted the candle to shed more light, and spotted even more blood drops, some of which were smeared, that started to form a trail. Going back to the kitchen and taking a bread knife, Maura then followed the grisly trail.
It continued until she reached a closed door, the entrance to Frankie's room. She knocked and called out, "Frankie?"
Receiving no response, she pushed open the door and rushed in when she saw Frankie lying on the floor, blood was coming forth from the back of the head. He was lying on his stomach, and Maura put a finger and under his notice, straining to feel the shallow breaths. Relieved that he was at least still alive, Maura called out to him again, "Frankie!"
She got a pained moan in response. Getting a small pitcher of water, Maura splashed some onto his face, causing Frankie to finally crack open an eye. "Ow…" he groaned long and loud. "My head…it's…" he moaned again.
"It's okay, Frankie, let me look over it," Maura said as she craned in to take a closer look. She didn't get the chance to look carefully, though.
"Wait, no! Argh, I…trouble remembering, but I do know…that bitch, Joyce, threatened Jane with my life. She took her somewhere…Hoyt…"
That was the only word Maura needed to hear. "Shoot…did she take our horse?"
"I don't think so…know that she had…her own horse."
"No, no, no…NO!" Maura slammed her fist into the ground, not even feeling the pain. "Do you think you can take care of yourself?"
"Yes…just go…get Jane."
Maura nodded and got up, dashing down to the stable. She didn't even bother to throw on the saddle, choosing instead to ride bareback, something that she didn't do very often. Maura only took the time to put the bit and reins on.
"Giddy-up," Maura commanded as she dug her heels into the horse's side. Maura vaguely knew where she was going, mainly relying on the sparse memories she had when Jane had brought the both of them home. But, adrenaline does things to you, and Maura made only a few mistakes. Stopping only for one or two breaks – which was basically for the horse to cool down and take a drink of water from nearby streams or water holes, Maura rode all through the night.
It was about the crack of dawn when Maura suddenly realised that there was signs that another person had gone through this part of the woods. There were broken branches and upturned soil. "Whoa, there, buddy," she pulled on the reins. She slid off her steed and proceeded warily on foot. She gasped aloud when she came to a small clearing and saw Jane.
Jane was seated on the forest floor, bound to a tree, and gagged. Her hands tied in front and another rope going around her upper chest, tying her arm to her sides. There was an ugly, swollen gash across her forehead. Jane moaned and looked up, as if subconsciously aware that someone was watching her. Her eyes immediately fell on Maura and a stunned expression etched itself onto Jane's face. However, it morphed into horror and started shaking her head. With a start, Maura realised, that Jane was now looking at someone behind her.
Maura felt the whoosh as the butt of a pistol came down, aimed towards the back of her head. Acting on pure instinct, Maura threw herself to the ground, narrowly avoiding the blow. Maura scrambled as far and as fast as she could, keeping an eye out for a heavy branch. Reaching the edge of the clearing, which was just a few paces away, Maura finally found a bough. She leaned down to grab it, turning around as she did so.
Maura had thought that Joyce would have given chase. Alas, that was not the case. Instead, Joyce stood, where Maura had hidden at first, her gun poised directly at Maura's chest.
"I underestimated you, Maura. I thought that Jane and I would have made it all the way back to my place before you would have arrived."
"You know what they say, 'Never judge a book by its cover.'"
"Well, this book is about to get severely dusted."
Maura heard the cock of the pistol and the thrashing coming from Jane, as she strained against her bonds.
"Any last words before I blow your brains out?"
Maura, with her grip still on the stick, stared back at Joyce. Maura had been coming up with a plan, something that just might save her life. Throw the branch as hard as you can, duck as soon as the stick leaves your hand. Wait until the branch hits her, then run forward and grab her around the waist.
Maura did not leave any room for "ifs." It was a do or die, and she was ready for it. This was what she was used to, thinking on the spot, coming up with different ways to save someone, whether it be all those patients she had ever treated, or her own skin. Years of having to come up with a plan at the drop of a hat to save a person's life had made Maura quickly analyse her situation and assess the best methods to carry out her plans.
"Yes, I have something to say. Go to hell." And with that, Maura went through the steps she had planned out. Hurling the branch straight at Joyce, it collided with her in the stomach, causing her to gasp for breath. Maura had ducked as soon as she threw the branch, taking into account that Joyce might have fired a shot, and ran straight towards her, tackling Joyce to the ground – line backer style.
Maura quickly straddled Joyce and pummelled a fist into her face. "That's for hitting Frankie." Another blow. "That one's for taking Jane." Yet another blow. "And that one's for me."
By the time Maura was done, Joyce was starting to lose consciousness. Her eyes were unfocused and there was blood streaming from her broken nose. Maura stopped herself and looked down at what she had done. "Whoa! That was crazy…I've – I've never done that before…" Maura panted.
A noise from where Jane was caused Maura to look back up. Jane. Maura thought. Glancing down, she saw a small knife on Joyce's belt. She quickly snatched it up and ran over to where Jane was, cutting her free.
"Maura, you're bleeding!" was Jane's first words when Maura removed her gag.
It was only when Jane told her that she was bleeding, did Maura feel a warm sticky liquid flowing down her right side. "Oh, that's not good," Maura said as she put her hand to her side and tried to stem the blood. Assessing the wound through her own touch, Maura breathed a sigh of relieve. "It's just a graze. Could you please take off you jacket. I need to stop the bleeding."
"Of course, Maura. Let me help you."
As soon as Jane helped to the stop the wound, she grasped Maura by the shoulders. "Maura, do you think you could take the horse and go back by yourself?"
Maura looked questioningly at Jane. "I could. It's just that I would have to take it slowly. Why?"
"I need to stop Hoyt. I need to get rid of that monster. He just proved to me – to us – that he is still capable of wreaking havoc. I thought that that second chance at life would make him more sallow and quiet, but it hasn't. I need to kill him."
Maura was quiet for a spell. "I am coming with you." Her tone left no room for objections, and she stared down the look of disapproval coming from Jane's eyes.
"Fine." Jane got up and grumbled. She walked over to where Joyce was lying on the ground, alive, but didn't look too good, especially from all the blood on her face. Jane stooped down and stared straight at Joyce. "Tell me where Hoyt is."
Joyce chuckled back. "What? You think I am just going to tell you like that?"
Jane stood back up and took the fallen pistol. Aiming right at Joyce's head, she repeated her question. "Where. Is. Hoyt."
"Just shoot. A quick bullet to my brain would be so painless."
Without warning, Jane fired the gun. But not before she pointed it a little down to the south, aiming for the thigh instead. A scream ripped out from Joyce as she felt the burn of the bullet.
"Now, are you going to tell me?"
"My-my housssse…argh…down at Silver Ridge County. It's on-on the outsk-skirts."
"Good. I'll leave you your horse. But, let me warn you, woman, mess with me or my family, and I will come after you and give you something worse than a bullet in the leg."
I heard the clopping of hoof beats as someone came up to the front porch. I glanced at the clock. Joyce was late. The caretaker had already left two hours ago, and Joyce had said she would be back by that time.
Footsteps climbed up the steps and onto the porch. I frowned. That sounded like boot footsteps, and Joyce did not wear boots. My hand flew to the gun on the table beside me.
"Hold it right there or I'll blow your brain right here and now, without any disclosure."
My hand halted and I smirked a little to myself. Turning to face her, "Ah, Jane. I can smell you from here. Lavender. And what's this new scent? Anger?"
She advanced slowly, her pistol pointed straight at my head, "Enough, Hoyt. I'm here to end it all now. I was wrong when I thought that you weren't going to cause any trouble as an invalid. Boy, was I wrong, Hoyt."
I merely smiled. I knew she didn't have the guts to pull that trigger. She had the chance on that day, but she didn't do it. "Sure, Jane. I know you don't have the guts to do that. You have too much good in you. Your innate fear of turning into a monster has too strong a grip on you. Whatever you tell yourself, you know that you will never pull that trigger. Once you do that, you've turned into me. Something you don't want to ever happen."
I saw the doubt that flitted across her face, and I knew I had struck a nerve. I heard another footstep entering the house. Delicate, light. "Slowly, silently, now the moon/Walks the night in her silver shoon;" I whispered.
Jane stiffened and turned to look back. "Maura, wait outside, please?"
"You sure you'll be all right?" Maura saw the hint of self-doubt in her Jane's eyes. "Don't let what he says get to you. We both know that that is the only defence he has." Maura encouraged as she slipped out.
Jane turned to look back at me as Maura left. "No, Hoyt, you got it so wrong. I would gladly turn into a monster in order to protect my loved ones. This is me, here for the love of all the ones I have lost, for the love of those who are still here, for the love of my loved ones future. I am here because of love. And that is what sets us apart. You kill in hate, and whatever bigoted fantasies you have. But, here I stand, to kill in love. You and I are two totally different people."
My eyes fell. I knew I had just lost and the end was near. There was nothing I could do now. I heard the cocking of the pistol and I lifted my head back up, staring straight at the barrel. "You are going to miss me," I sneered, right just before the gun went off.
I felt nothing actually. Just simply saw the bullet coming out in slow motion, heading right for me. Then there was nothing but darkness.
Maura sat nervously on the horse. Waiting for Jane to do what she needed to do. She jerked when she heard the shot, the horse neighed and skittered a little, startled by the sudden noise. A few seconds passed, then Jane ran out.
"Let's get going," Jane said as she mounted the horse behind Maura. "I don't want to stay another minute in this place."
Maura asked quietly, "Did you do it?"
Jane nodded grimly, and Maura snuggled backwards, in an attempt to let Jane know that Maura would always be there for her.
"I am just glad it's over, and I can't wait to get home. We can get your wound cleaned and finally be able to sleep without anyone breathing down our necks," Jane said, steering the horse back home.
"All right." Maura replied. She felt Jane's warm breath tickle her neck, and she hummed contentedly.
"Maura, thank you for coming in just now. I wouldn't have been able to done it if you hadn't talked to me. Thank you."
Maura smiled widely. "Of course, Jane. You are more than welcomed."
AN: And that's it folks!
I am half working on another story. Two, actually. So, I'll be taking it slow and easy. You also can find me on tumblr - .com. Got all kinds of Rizzoli and Isles and junk there. :)
